Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour on Oral Health Through COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: This research is aimed at determining the changes in individuals’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding oral health in terms of nutritional habits, daily oral care and the provision of dental services during the quarantine process in the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 1010 volunteers (age>18) participated in this online survey which was designed to evaluate the participants' demographic information, oral hygiene habits, experiences about oral health and nutritional trends throughout the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: According to the dietary habits scores, there was a tendency towards dietary consumption that would positively affect oral health (0.381±1.76) (mean ± standard deviation). During this period, 11.4% of women and 20.2% of men smoked less. The frequency of brushing teeth in 20.6% of the participants, flossing in 9.4% and using mouthwash in 28.7% increased. Moreover, the frequency of brushing teeth, flossing and using mouthwash in 7.8%, 7.1% and 7.5% of the participants, respectively, decreased. 67.8% of the participants believed that oral health and general health were related to each other, and 80.5% thought that there was a risk of transmission of COVID-19 in dental treatment. Oral health problem was experienced in 21.7% of the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, according to our survey, 25.6% of these people visited the dentist, while 74.4% did not. Conclusion: During the quarantine period, positive changes were observed in individuals’ nutrition and smoking behavior. Due to the pandemic, individuals who had oral health problems had reservations about seeking treatment, and treatment services were disrupted. It would be beneficial to increase the public's awareness about the re-planning of dental treatment services due to the pandemic conditions, and the measures taken for the protection of oral health.

Amaç: Bu araştırmada Koronavirüs hastalığı-19 (COVID-19) salgınında uygulanan karantina sürecinde ağız ve diş sağlığıyla ilgili olarak beslenme alışkanlıkları, günlük ağız bakımı ve diş hekimliği hizmetlerinin sunumu açısından bireylerin bilgi, tutum ve davranışlarındaki değişikliklerin tespit edilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırma 18 yaş üzeri 1010 gönüllü ile çevrimiçi anket yoluyla yapılmıştır. Anket katılımcıların demografik bilgilerini, COVID-19 salgını esnasında uygulanan karantina dönemindeki beslenme eğilimlerini, ağız hijyeni alışkanlıkları ile ağız ve diş sağlığı ile ilgili deneyimlerini değerlendirmek üzere planlanmıştır. Bulgular: Beslenme alışkanlıkları puanlamasına göre ağız ve diş sağlığına olumlu yönde etki edecek beslenme tüketimine doğru bir yönelme vardır (0,381±1,76) (ortalama ± standart sapma). Kadınların %11,4’ü, erkeklerin %20,2’si bu süreçte daha az sigara içmiştir. Katılımcıların %20,6’sının diş fırçalama, %9,4’ünün diş ipi, %28,7’sinin ağız gargarası kullanım sıklığı artmış, %7,8’inin diş fırçalama, %7,1’inin diş ipi, %7,5’inin ağız gargarası kullanım sıklığı azalmıştır. Katılımcıların %67,8’i ağız ve diş sağlığı ile genel sağlığın ilişkili olduğu, %80,5’i diş tedavisinde COVID-19 bulaşma riski olduğu görüşündedir. Katılımcıların %21,7’si COVID-19 sürecinde ağız ve diş sağlığı ile ilgili bir sorun yaşamıştır. Bu kişilerin %25,6’sı yaşadıkları sorun nedeniyle diş hekimine başvururken, %74,4’ü başvurmamıştır. Sonuç: COVID-19 salgınında uygulanan karantina döneminde bireylerin beslenme ve sigara içme davranışlarında olumlu yönde değişiklikler olmuştur. Ağız bakım alışkanlıklarında ise olumlu ve olumsuz yönde farklı eğilimler sergilenmiştir. Bu dönemde ağız ve diş sağlığı ile ilgili sorun yaşayan bireylerin salgın nedeniyle tedavi arayışına girmekte çekinceleri olmuş ve tedavi hizmetleri aksamıştır. Diş tedavi hizmetlerinin salgın şartlarına göre yeniden planlanmasının ve ağız sağlığının korunması için alınacak bireysel önlemler hakkında toplumda farkındalık oluşmasına yönelik çalışmaların artması faydalı olacaktır.

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